Surpassing all records, power demand in the capital on Thursday was the highest ever since 1905 at 5789 MW. The peak demand was recorded at 4.11 pm as the city reeled under a heatwave with the monsoon staying away. Temperature rose to 41.3 degree Celsius on Thursday – the hottest day of July in two years.

“The total consumption from the midnight of July 8 to the midnight of July 9 was 116.308 million units, which is close to the highest recorded consumption of 116.735 million units on June 20 this year,” a statement from the government said.

According to the Power department, the high consumption was due to excessive use of electrical appliances, especially air-conditioners. “Delhi has arranged sufficient power and the power companies will be able to met the predicted peak demand of 6,100 MW,” an official said.

The city had witnessed peak demand of 5,653 MW on June 7 last year, while peak demand touched 5,642 MW in 2012 and was 5,028 MW in 2011.

“Usually, monsoon hits the capital in July. The current upward trend in temperature is mainly due to elusive rains,” a MeT department official said.

The day temperature of 41.3 degree Celsius recorded at Safdarjung observatory was six degrees above normal for this time of the year. The minimum stood at 29.6 degree Celsius. At Palam, the maximum temperature was recorded at 43.5 degree Celsius.

The dry patch, however, has caused a drop in humidity, which was oscillating between 90 and 80 per cent last week. “Humidity levels on Thursday hovered between 65 and 32 per cent,” the official said.

Similar weather conditions are likely to prevail over the next 24 hours. The weatherman has predicted a partly cloudy sky for Friday with the maximum and minimum temperature expected to settle between 41 and 30 degree Celsius. “There is little possibility of rainfall,” a MeT official said.